Please take a look at Articles on self-defense/conflict/violence for introductions to the references found in the bibliography page.

Please take a look at my bibliography if you do not see a proper reference to a post.

Please take a look at my Notable Quotes

Hey, Attention on Deck!

Hey, NOTHING here is PERSONAL, get over it - Teach Me and I will Learn!


When you begin to feel like you are a tough guy, a warrior, a master of the martial arts or that you have lived a tough life, just take a moment and get some perspective with the following:


I've stopped knives that were coming to disembowel me

I've clawed for my gun while bullets ripped past me

I've dodged as someone tried to put an ax in my skull

I've fought screaming steel and left rubber on the road to avoid death

I've clawed broken glass out of my body after their opening attack failed

I've spit blood and body parts and broke strangle holds before gouging eyes

I've charged into fires, fought through blizzards and run from tornados

I've survived being hunted by gangs, killers and contract killers

The streets were my home, I hunted in the night and was hunted in turn


Please don't brag to me that you're a survivor because someone hit you. And don't tell me how 'tough' you are because of your training. As much as I've been through I know people who have survived much, much worse. - Marc MacYoung

WARNING, CAVEAT AND NOTE

The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books. Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented.


Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.



“What you are reading right now is a blog. It’s written and posted by me, because I want to. I get no financial remuneration for writing it. I don’t have to meet anyone’s criteria in order to post it. Not only I don’t have an employer or publisher, but I’m not even constrained by having to please an audience. If people won’t like it, they won’t read it, but I won’t lose anything by it. Provided I don’t break any laws (libel, incitement to violence, etc.), I can post whatever I want. This means that I can write openly and honestly, however controversial my opinions may be. It also means that I could write total bullshit; there is no quality control. I could be biased. I could be insane. I could be trolling. … not all sources are equivalent, and all sources have their pros and cons. These needs to be taken into account when evaluating information, and all information should be evaluated. - God’s Bastard, Sourcing Sources (this applies to this and other blogs by me as well; if you follow the idea's, advice or information you are on your own, don't come crying to me, it is all on you do do the work to make sure it works for you!)



“You should prepare yourself to dedicate at least five or six years to your training and practice to understand the philosophy and physiokinetics of martial arts and karate so that you can understand the true spirit of everything and dedicate your mind, body and spirit to the discipline of the art.” - cejames (note: you are on your own, make sure you get expert hands-on guidance in all things martial and self-defense)



“All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.” - Montaigne


I am not a leading authority on any one discipline that I write about and teach, it is my hope and wish that with all the subjects I have studied it provides me an advantage point that I offer in as clear and cohesive writings as possible in introducing the matters in my materials. I hope to serve as one who inspires direction in the practitioner so they can go on to discover greater teachers and professionals that will build on this fundamental foundation. Find the authorities and synthesize a wholehearted and holistic concept, perception and belief that will not drive your practices but rather inspire them to evolve, grow and prosper. My efforts are born of those who are more experienced and knowledgable than I. I hope you find that path! See the bibliography I provide for an initial list of experts, professionals and masters of the subjects.

Ken Ki Tai Ichi

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

Ken: Depending on the characters used it can mean, “in addition or concurrently; matter or item; sword or bayonet or swordsmanship []; prefecture; authority; ticket or coupon; sphere or circle; strength or firmness or armor; Fist [],” or a few other translations according to the character/ideograph. In addition its use can be related to any number of area’s within the Japanese domain according to where one is and what culture is dominant, etc. In this use, article, Ken is used to denote both the sword and the fist.

Ki []: Also according to what characters/ideographs are used this can mean, “Spirit or mind or heart or nature or motivation or essence, etc.,; tree or wood or timber; yellow; account or history or record,” and so on but for this article is means, “Spirit (mind, heart, nature, intention, etc.).” 

Tai []: Tai also comes in a few different flavors but for this article it means, “Body, physique, posture, shape, form, style, substance, identity, reality.” 

Ichi []: Ichi as well has a variety but for this article it means, “One (best in; the most (…) in (where adj follows).”

This article is derived from an article presented by Dave Lowry in the most recent edition of, “Black Belt” magazine. Normally, I will see the BB mag on the shelf, pick it up and flip through to see what content it has and then most of the time put it back. This is one month where I actually forked over some bucks to read several of the articles if for no other reason then to see what they said regarding the articles topics.

First is, “A Perfect Strike in Japanese Arts,” by Dave Lowry.
Second is, “Dave Grossman on the Psychology of Combat.” by Mark Jacobs.
Third is, “Martial Arts Books that made History,” by Dave Lowry.
Fourth is, “Civil Liability in Self-Defense,” by Frank Gannon.

This article is on the story by Dave Lowry as listed first above, i.e., the story is about striking as it pertains to the phrase, “Ken Ki Tai Ichi.” I provided separate definitions at the start of the article just to get that stuck in the background of your mind while you read on.

 I can say that I have studied and learned a great deal about martial arts, academically speaking since I have not met or trained with Mr. Lowry, from his writings both in his monthly article in BB and more so in his books found and available from Amazon. This phrase is a new one for me and it can be found more from the practice of the sword of Japan, the Katana in Kendo or Iaido, etc.

As I ready Mr. Lowry’s article it occurred to me that what he was presenting was a means to describe, historically speaking as to terms, etc., the use of fundamental principles to achieve that perfect strike.

Perfect Strike, is not one of those things you can master toward its application every single time but is rather a goal to achieve for the make that perfect strike is one of those things practice and training are about. When you begin to learn and understand what it takes to achieve that perfect strike you find there are so many variables that can bleed of energy resulting in a loss of force and power in a chaotic environment called combat, fighting and self-defense it is a wonder systems like karate ever truly work. 

The definition of ken-ki-tai-ichi that I derived from Mr. Lowry’s article is, “One’s weapon in a perfect alignment with one’s spirit or energy and one’s body culminating into one holistic application in a coordinated action applied at the same time and moment.” Mr. Lowry simplifies it into, “One’s weapon (Ken, which can be written to refer to a sword or a fist but which really applies to any weapon), one’s spirit or energy and one’s body must all be ichi - ONE. All must be employed in coordination and at that the same time.” 

What I appreciated about Mr. Lowry’s article is its reference to one of the principles you read and see and hear in almost all martial disciplines, i.e., “Yin-Yang,” where he also writes about the other side of ken-ki-tai-ichi in that one must destroy an adversary’s application of ken-ki-tai-ichi. I liked his references to, “Making the perfect strike, one that destroys not only an adversary’s attack but also his will to fight and his physical ability to do so.” 

When I think of this phrase it reminds me of principle based training with a goal of learning and applying principles that bring together into one the spirit, body and mind of the practitioner to reach the goals of self-defense. The ability to apply balance, structure, alignment, etc. into that one holistic application using any appropriate technique through proper tactics and strategies so that the most force and power are applied to any given situation and moment toward success in defense. 

The entire theory of practice is achieving “one wholehearted” mastery of one’s discipline regardless of its cultural connections along with individualized interpretations so that it uses principles that transcend such trappings. 

Bibliography (Click the link)



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